GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Damyean Dotson spent four straight games on the bench.

As Knicks coach David Fizdale evaluated lineups, Dotson found himself temporarily out of the rotation.

Dotson stayed ready.

When Fizdale called Dotson's name again last week against the Pistons, Dotson responded with a 17-point performance.

Dotson, who's averaging 18 points in the last three games, is a good example for Frank Ntilikina, who didn't play in the Knicks' 136-134 overtime win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night at the Garden.

It's a matter of being prepared for when his name is called again, which Fizdale has said could happen at any moment.

"For the most part it’s before practice, coming in, working out, staying after practice," Dotson said after the Knicks' practice Sunday. "I mean Frank does that anyway. Me and him, when we work out we usually work out together. Just staying ready. When you’re not playing work out like you’re playing. So if you didn’t play last night, come in and get at least a 25, 30-minute workout hard, get the shots you’ll get in the game, try to get a good sweat. Just stay focused and stay locked in."

Fizdale said Ntilikina's DNP Saturday night was simply a "Coach's decision." He had been going to Ntilikina in the first half of previous games, and if it didn't go well, he'd bring in Dotson.

Dotson played well.

So Saturday night, Fizdale said he felt it was fair to Dotson to go to him first. Dotson, the Knicks' second-round pick in 2017, finished with 21 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including 5-of-5 from the perimeter.

“I would just say every day that we were coming back in here, he never changed the way he went about his business," Fizdale said. "And that’s to be said about all of them. Frank came in here today and got to work and had a good day of practice. That’s what I’m stressing to them. There’s gonna be waves in this thing, but it’s how you approach and work every day and respond to that stuff.”

While Ntilikina didn't play Saturday, he remained active on the bench.

"Of course as players everybody wants to play," Ntilikina said after the game. "As a great player and a great teammate you’ve got go through the situation and bring, like I always say, I want to bring what I can bring to the team. On the bench I’m going to bring my IQ and talk to the team. I’m going to cheer for them. I’m just going to stay positive for them. All I want is our team to be successful."

Dotson didn't play the first two games of the season, and then averaged 11.4 points on 47.1 percent shooting (39.5 percent from three-point range) in the next 18 contests before he sat for four straight.

Along with his scoring, he had given the Knicks strong perimeter defense.

Dotson said it wasn't as difficult to deal with as it could've been because the situation had been explained to him.

He stayed ready.

"I would say if it wasn’t being communicated then it would be tough," Dotson said. "For the most part coach is telling us he has a reason behind everything. So just as far as when I wasn’t playing the four games he was steady talking to me, telling me we’ve got to get this rotation going right now, win a couple games. So I kind of understood it. Now as far as Frank right now, stay with it. Nobody is never in the doghouse."

Injury report

Trey Burke (sprained right knee) is out for Monday night's game against the Washington Wizards. Burke landed awkwardly on his leg after going for a layup against the Bucks on Saturday.